UPDATE: Coast Guard Search Suspended, Possible Hoax

The North Carolina Coast Guard says it has suspended its search for what was an unconfirmed mayday call and now believe it may have been a hoax.

Officials with the Coast Guard and Pamlico County EMS had been searching the Neuse River around the mouth of Dawson Creek Saturday evening for what was said to be a boat that had run aground and was taking on water.

The Coast Guard says that it takes all calls for rescue seriously and will continue to monitor whether a renewed search needs to take place.

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Elements of the North Carolina Coast Guard are searching for an unconfirmed boat in distress.

A public affairs officer with the Coast Guard tells WITN that an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a small boat from station Hobucken, along with Pamlico EMS are searching the Neuse River around the mouth of Dawson Creek for the source of an unconfirmed distress mayday.

We’re told a call came in saying that a boat had run aground and was taking on water. The official could not say the precise time of the call in. WITN received word of a search around 5 this evening.

The official said he would update us as information becomes available.

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